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Proposed 2021 Covid-19 Relief from the TMA149 Board of Directors

The following proposed by-law amendments and motions aim to provide relief for TMA149 members from the continued financial, social, physical and mental burden of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the related public gathering restrictions.  The proposals are pending membership approval at the December general meeting and approval by the Federation International Executive Board.

2021 Covid-19 Motion 1 of 6 – Dues Relief and Restructure

2021 Covid-19 Motion 2 of 6 – Expelled Status Relief

2021 Covid-19 Motion 3 of 6 –Reinstatement Relief

2021 Covid-19 Motion 4 of 6 –Work Dues Relief for Music Lessons

2021 Covid-19 Motion 1 of 6 – Dues Relief and Restructure

WHEREAS TMA members have suffered a great loss of income and wellbeing from the Covid-19 Pandemic and the associated public gathering restrictions;

AND WHEREAS the TMA Board of Directors wishes to grant members relief of regular dues for 2021 as members respond to, and recover from, the pandemic and its effects;

AND WHEREAS the Federation has not signalled any plans to lower the per capita tax of $16.50 per quarter per member owing from TMA to the Federation, regardless of the dues charged by TMA to its members;

AND WHEREAS TMA members wish to ensure the TMA remains properly funded and fiscally sound for the long recovery ahead;

AND WHEREAS it is believed that TMA will achieve more long-term member engagement from a discount for paying four or more quarters, or signing up for pre-authorized payment, at any time of the year, versus an early calendar year discount;

AND WHEREAS the TMA Board of Directors wishes to provide quarterly payment as an option for Life, Student and Youth members, and clarify what makes a member eligible for Student and Youth membership.

THE TMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MOVES that the following amendments be made to TMA by-laws to provide relief:

10        (1) Effective January 1st, 20142021, the annual dues payable by regular members are:

(a)        255.00 paid in four equal quarterly instalments of $63.75 per quarter payable in January, April, July and October

OR

(b)        $235.00 paid in full before the 31st day of January. $58.75 per quarter when paying for four or more quarters at once.  Notwithstanding, dues shall be $49.00 per quarter when paying for four or more quarters at once between January 1st and December 31st, 2021 in order to provide relief in the recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

OR

(c)        $58.75 per quarter when registering for ongoing pre-authorized payment by quarter. Notwithstanding, dues shall be $49.00 per quarter when registering for ongoing pre-authorized payment by quarter between January 1st and December 31st, 2021 in order to provide relief in the recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Members who prepaid for any quarters in 2021 or future years on or before December 31, 2020 will have a quarter added to their membership at no charge in order to provide relief in the recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic

NOTE:   The annual dues include Federation per capita tax as required by the AFM By-Laws.

 

 

(2)       Life Members: Life members are required by the Federation to pay full Federation per capita dues and 25% of the Local’s regular annual dues and assessments.
Effective January 1st, 2021, (a)        the dues payable per quarter by Life members are $27.50.

(b)        the dues payable per quarter by Youth & Student members are $30.00.

(c)        Youth members are eligible until the end of the quarter following their 21st birthday.

(d)        Student members are eligible from the first quarter they provide proof of enrollment in full time post-secondary education when signing up or renewing.

(e)        Student and Youth members may pay dues per quarter for up to four quarters of membership when signing up or renewing.

 

2021 Covid-19 Motion 2 of 6 – Expelled Status Relief

WHEREAS TMA members have suffered great losses of income and wellbeing from the Covid-19 Pandemic and the associated public gathering restrictions;

AND WHEREAS an Expelled membership status due to non-payment does not have the same meaning within the economic environment of the pandemic;

AND WHEREAS The AFM International Executive Board has provided locals with the ability to extend the automatic expulsion of members who fail to pay their 2020 periodic membership dues;

AND WHEREAS Article 10(3)(b) of the TMA By-laws states “A member suspended for non-payment of dues shall be automatically expelled for such non-payment after 6 months”;

THE TMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MOVES that, retroactive to July 1, 2020, the expelled deadline defined in Article 10 (3) (b) of the TMA By-Laws be extended until either the TMA Board passes a motion to reinstate the deadline, or until the AFM International Executive Board ends the provision for local boards to extend such deadlines, whichever comes first.

2021 Covid-19 Motion 3 of 6 –Reinstatement Relief

WHEREAS TMA members have suffered great losses of income and wellbeing from the Covid-19 Pandemic and the associated public gathering restrictions;

AND WHEREAS TMA Members who resigned in good standing during the pandemic and wish to be reinstated should be welcomed back with appreciation.

THE TMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS moves to reinstate Article 14 (2) of the TMA by-laws, originally suspended in a motion at the May 2020 General Meeting;

FURTHER THE TMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MOVES that the following amendment be made to the same article to provide greater relief:

14        (2) A member who has resigned “in good standing” may be reinstated after one year of resignation upon payment of 50% of one year’s current annual dues.

 

2021 Covid-19 Motion 4 of 6 –Work Dues Relief for Music Lessons

WHEREAS the teaching of private and group music lessons remains regularly available work for musicians during the pandemic;

AND WHEREAS the TMA Board of Directors wishes to assist musicians at this time to ensure more of this work is reported to TMA;

AND WHEREAS the reporting of music lessons on contract will allow for members to become vested and remain vested in the Musicians Pension Fund of Canada;

AND WHEREAS TMA plans to launch an easy online music lesson reporting module in 2021;

THE TMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MOVES that the following amendment be made to TMA by-laws to provide relief:

11        (1) All engagements in the jurisdiction of the Association are subject to work dues based on the minimum basic fee in the Tariff of Fees. All negotiated Local, National and International Agreements are subject to work dues based on the minimum basic fee as per the applicable agreement. AFM By-Laws provide a requirement that a percentage be submitted to the Federation, known as Federation Work Dues. (Contact the Local for the appropriate work dues percentage. Work dues are 5% for MPF, 3.5% for Electronic engagements, for 2021 0% for all engagements reported on the Teacher Reporting Module, and 3% for all other engagements.)